Looking at our Loyalties

Matthew 10:34–39 ESV

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

2 Corinthians 11:1–15 ESV

1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Introduction

Never let loyalty make a fool of you

Paul did - referred to as the fool’s speech (8x he says foolish, fool)

Loyalty is a big buzzword in business - brand loyalty, loyalty programs

Loyalty today is built on benefits not the business.

But true loyalty will always cost something

So if our loyalty is based only on benefits it will not be a true loyalty that lasts

The loyalty of the Corinthians was failing

Paul was using every bit of his influence with the Corinthians so that they would devote themselves Christ.

That influence has been threatened and undermined

Paul’s main concern was not his own status but the sincerity of the Corinthians faith.

Paul had no problem referring to himself as a slave, a clay pot, an underrower - but here he’s forced to boast about his credentials

So he’s not defending himself to protect a wounded ego

He wasn’t defending himself to protect his income (vs.7-11)

He’s defending his integrity because the gospel is at stake

He brought the message to them

Laid a solid foundation that these false leaders couldn’t discard so they tried to discredit Paul.

All out smear campaign to do everything to destroy Paul’s reputation.

They lied about him and sadly many people listened

There is some urgency in this letter because they’re deciding whether or not they’re going to move on to something else

Paul understood that he was an ambassador but it broke his heart knowing that rejecting him meant rejecting the One who sent him.

2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Paul calls the Corinthians to be loyal again

Loyal to God

2 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!

2 Corinthians 11:2 ESV

2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Divine Jealousy - the Jealousy of God

Different than envy (springs from selfishness) - Jealousy comes from love

Paul feels the pain of God being dishonored

Loyal to Jesus

2 Corinthians 11:2–4 ESV

2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

Devoted to Jesus - we’ve pledged our lives to Him (engaged)

What a dishonor our disloyalty to Him is

Loyal to the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

This message that is seen as foolish by so many

This message that is seen as foolish by so many

This message that is seen as foolish by so many

A suffering savior and crucified Christ who delivers by dying?

Tendency to think well they’d be prone to believe it because they were primitive but we’re so much more sophisticated

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

By the time John is writing of the 7 churches have defected

Paul’s battle wasn’t just in Corinth - remember what he wrote to the Galatians?

Galatians 1:6 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

You would think there would be a strong loyalty to Paul after all he risked and suffered for their sakes to bring them the gospel and to build them up.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 1:15 ESV

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 4:9 ESV

9 Do your best to come to me soon.

2 Timothy 4:10 ESV

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

2 Timothy 4:16 ESV

16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!

2 Timothy 4:

Loyal to the Truth

You are so easily seduced - the tragedy of Eden is dangerously close to being repeated

2 Corinthians 11:5 ESV

Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.

This is interesting because

Interesting because when it came to the true Apostles Paul wasn’t afraid to say that he was the least, that he didn’t deserve to be called an Apostle

1 Corinthians 15:9 ESV

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Paul didn’t have charisma, not a big personality, unimpressive to look at - he even admits he was an unskilled speaker (idiot)

2 Corinthians 11:6 ESV

6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

2 Cor 11:

But he reminds them its about the truth not technique, the substance not the show, clarity is more important than cool-factor

Human eloquence draws people to the preacher, entertainment draws them to the church, but only the truth will draw them to the cross

Paul wasn’t trying to establish a reputation for himself but a relationship with Jesus

I don’t want people saying, “wow he’s a great speaker” I want them to say “Jesus is a great Savior!”

Preach Christ crucified - the power and wisdom of God!

A simple message that calls for sincere devotion

If He would give His life for me than I must give my life to Him.

No higher knowledge, no secret experience or insight, the essence of the Christian life is devotion to Jesus Christ.

A loyalty like a sword that severs every tie that would threaten.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

John 13:1 ESV

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Paul was willing to become a fool (Fool’s Speech 11:1-12:13)

He was loyal to the church at Corinth